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Candice's Hair with Heart challenge

Please Help Me
Reach My Goal

Raised

$1,082

My Goal

$2,000

Select amount to donate

$30
Can help provide education supplies to a child experiencing financial hardship
$58
Can help fund a wig for a child experiencing medical hair loss
$93
Can help cover therapy costs for a child in need
$128
Can help fund mobility equipment for a child living with a disability

Or enter an amount

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I'm chopping my hair and need your help!

I have made the decision to make a difference by cutting and donating my hair to be made into a wig for someone who has lost their hair due to a medical condition.

With the help of my hairdresser Kellie, I'll be chopping off a minimum of 35.5cms on Monday 24 October 2022.

Wigs cost families up to $6,000, lasting 1-2 years, meaning families can spend tens of thousands of dollars on the purchase of wigs throughout a child’s youth. By making a donation to Variety - the Children's Charity, you can help provide a wig or other vital equipment to a child in need. Thank you for helping kids in need.

My Updates

The Stats, the Cause and why every donation counts

Saturday 22nd Oct
Let's talk statistics. 
81,244
200
6,864
41,647

Over eighty one thousand impacted by Variety last year*. I don't know about you, but I had no idea their reach was that big. It also didn't occur to me (before) that there are that many kids who need help from charities such as Variety.

Two hundred different medical conditions were supported last year by Variety. That is beyond amazing. I bet the number of medical conditions is growing too.

Six thousand eight hundred and sixty four people fundraised for Variety. 

Forty one thousand six hundred and forty seven people have donated their hair to Variety's Hair with Heart. 

That means that Variety receives over 6 times the amount of hair donations to the amount of people fundraising. That's an incredible amount of hair being donated! But with each wig costing families up to $6,000 and lasting 1-2 years, we need to do more than donate our locks to really help kids in need.

A small gift can make a world of difference to a child and their family. Let's do what we can to help make a difference.

2 days until the Big Chop, 1 more wash to go!

*Source: Hair with heart website, Variety Australia

Donation - Thank you's!

Thursday 20th Oct
I would like to say a massive thank you to all who have donated recently:
JP
Janelle Gavin
Cristy Joel
Brian & Janine McDonald (my lovely inlaws!)

Thank you all for your generous donations and in supporting my big chop and this amazing charity!

Update #4 Fun Fact & Sailor Moon needs your help!

Sunday 16th Oct
As I sit here with my Sailor Moon inspired hair style, I'm truly thankful for all who have donated, shared my page and helped keep the conversation going. We really are doing this together, thank you!

So I have a fun fact for this update: my ponytail length (normal, single high ponytail) is 63cms. Yep, longer than two standard 30cm rulers. Not kidding, I measured it last week!

Going back to the cause, I am VERY excited to do the big chop to help brighten the lives beautiful kids. Your donations are equally as valuable.

With only 8 days to go until the big chop, I would love to smash a fundraising goal - can we reach $1,500?

Update #3 ten days until the big chop!

Friday 14th Oct

Thank you to each and every one of you who have donated, shared my fundraising page and asked me about my hair and upcoming big chop (10 days!). Your support is so appreciated and has not gone unnoticed.

Since my last update I have received a new Heart achievement on my page for receiving 10 donations from YOU! Exciting times.
In 2021 Variety supported 75,275 children across Australia. If 50 people donated the average cost of their weekly coffee (say $25) to my fundraising page, my goal of $2,000.00 would be reached for Variety the children’s charity. Can you help me achieve this goal for a child in need?

10 days until the big chop, 3 washes to go. Keep checking back for more photos – I’ll do my best to get creative (think braids, pigtails, etc.)!

Thanks for coming along the journey with me

Candice x

Donation - Thank you's

Friday 14th Oct
Thank you for your donations:
Josh Pope
Josh Engelke
Mum & Dad
Anonymous

Together with your donations to Variety, we are making a difference!

The week that was and the why

Sunday 2nd Oct

I received a new Heart achievement on my page this week, for receiving 5 donations from family and friends, old and new. Thank you! Together we’re making a difference.

In a previous update I mentioned I would divulge more on the why in a later post. Well, this is that post. Growing up as (dare I say it) cute twin girls, Jasmine and I had luscious long dark blonde hair. We used to joke with our Dad about cutting our hair short and he’d reply “not until your 35”. We practiced plaiting and learnt to braid with each other’s hair. Many friends needed curly hair wigs for dance competitions, we didn’t. Our hair was the real deal. I can’t imagine my childhood or teenage years without hair.

We all know someone (or of someone) who has lost their hair to treatment of a medical condition, if not a medical condition itself. Some of us have witnessed their confidence change during this time. Who are you thinking of now? My guess is it isn’t a child.  

I have grown my hair to donate to Variety, from there it will be made into a wig for a child who has lost their hair due to medical condition. You are joining me on this journey, by talking with me about my hair and the cause and making a donation on my fundraising page (if in a position to do so). All money raised will help kids living with disability, chronic illness and disadvantage and every share, discussion and donation helps.

3 weeks until the big chop, 6 washes to go. Thank you for coming along the journey with me.
Candice x

Donation - Thank you's

Sunday 2nd Oct
I would like to say a big thank you to all who have donated so far:
Jasmine Golding
The Hall family
Jason Varney
Alycia Stephenson
Chris Hooper

Thank you all for your generous donations and in supporting this well deserving charity. Together, we're making a difference!

Donation - Thank you

Sunday 25th Sep
I would like to say a big thank you to my big brother, Jason Golding

Thank you for your donation and in supporting this amazing charity.

The journey to 38cms of hair length

Sunday 25th Sep
Since I was little, my twin and I always had long hair. It was a #GoldingGirls trademark.
At 29 I chopped it to shoulder length (see photo). It was awesome! Couldn't believe how much time I saved in the week - washing, drying, styling my hair.
As my hair began to grow, I started noticing (more) grey hairs. For many people, that sends them straight to dyeing their hair but for me it meant this was the  probably the only time I'll be able to grow it real long and be able to donate it to a good cause.

I began researching hair donations (to be made into wigs) and learned the following:
- salt and pepper grey hair is a no-go. A few grey strands and all grey is accepted.
- dyed, highlighted, permed or chemically straightened also a no-go for wig making. Processed hair is more brittle and prone to breakage.
- Minimum hair donation of 14 inches / 35.5cms
- On average, it takes 10-20 ponytails to make one wig. Wowsers!
It was during this research where I learned my natural tonal hair is considered a premium hair donation. From here I decided to grow my hair with the purpose of donating to Variety Hair with Heart (more on the why to come in another blog post).

I have focussed a lot of energy in to growing and taking care of my long hair. Silk pillowcases, 6 monthly trims and few hot hair tools over this time to name a few. But these last few months have been a challenge!
It's currently 38cms from chop point, and the maintenance is a real chore. I'm fighting split ends, it constantly gets in the way and it takes so darn long to dry.
I almost reached chopping point in June, but my husband reminded me how close I was to reaching my goal and I've persevered.

I have had to really focus my thoughts on why I'm growing my hair, what this hair donation can do for a sick child and how lucky I am to be able to do this in the first place.

In 4 weeks, I chop my hair. I cannot wait for short hair but most importantly, I feel so darn honoured to be able to donate to #HairwithHeart and raise funds for #VarietyAustralia.

Thanks for coming along the journey with me.
Candice x

Thanks for all the support

$211

Candice Mcdonald

$105.50

Mum & Dad

I'm so proud of you my gorgeous girl xox 🥰

$105.50

Brian & Janine Mcdonald

$105.50

Olivia Franco

This is such an amazing and thoughtful achievement Candice, well done!

$52.75

Janelle Gavin

A great cause Candice!

$52.75

Chris Hooper

<3

$52.75

Lynna Marr

Congratulations and well done on what you have achieved. Such a valuable gift to someone and with long dedication by you.

$50

Jason Varney (oj)

$50

Josh Pope

$36.93

Cristy Joel

$31.65

Jp

$31.65

Jasmine Golding

What a tremendous effort Candice! So close to your goal after three years of growing!!

$31.65

Alycia Stephenson

$31.65

Bron

What an amazing act of kindness Candice.

$31.65

Josh Engelke

$30

Jason Golding

$30

M&s Hall

What you do matters. We’re so proud of you. Love the Halls xx

$21.10

Kellie M

$20

Anonymous